Our ambassadors

Meet

AMERICA

Arkansas

Name: Karen Michelle Collins
Contact: collinskarenmichelle@gmail.com
Brief bio: I want to continue being a WHD ambassador because I love Allah and I want to share Allah’s love with others. Learning about hijab as a Catholic and experiencing the wearing of hijab drew me closer to Allah and Islam. I want to share my journey with others and plant the seeds for Allah to water and grow.

California

Name: Noor Abushaban
Social media: @noor_abushaban

Brief bio: I am a Freshman in College. My daily life tends to greatly revolve around school, but outside of that I am very involved with my Islamic community. I especially love organizing and participating in Islamic events that reduce Islamophobia and prejudice towards Muslims. And that is why I wanted to become a World Hijab Day Ambassador because I knew there is no other way to reach that goal than to spread awareness and education. As a WHD ambassador, I hope to reduce Islamophobia to the best of my ability.

Washington State

Name: Samia Elkowessny
Contact: hijabistagirls.info@gmail.com
Social media: @thehijabistagirls  @thehijabistagirls
Brief bio: My mission and passion is to help all the young Muslim girls around the world to develop a love for the hijab and Islam and to counter all the negativity towards the hijab.
I want to help girls to develop the empowerment, confidence and conviction that the hijab is beautiful from every angle and that the hijab doesn’t get in the way of their dreams!

ARGENTINA

Name: Dr. Aisha Amella
Contact:  aishacristal89@gmail.com
Social media: @aisha.cristal89
Brief bio: Since I was little, Islam has always taught me to be supportive and help those who need it the most. That’s why in my city people got to know me for the help I gave selflessly; many people joined my path to help others. Alhamdulillah! Today we have a solidarity foundation that helps people who live on the streets and the indigenous people of my country, and that’s all thanks to Islam, thanks to Allah.

Being a surgeon with a great title, you can work without generating so much trouble with the hijab, but a sister who has no possibilities ends up being discriminated against and not accepted in a good job. They give you the choice between working or wearing the hijab and that must end! We are all equal and deserve the same rights as any other women because we decided to wear it.

As an ambassador of World Hijab Day, I want to show how women feel empowered when we wear the hijab; that wearing the hijab does not stop us from accomplishing our goals.  I feel it is very important to show the world that every woman has the right to wear the hijab and to wear it with pride without having to be discriminated against, Insha Allah.

AUSTRALIA

Name: Laura Abdul Fattah
Social media: @worldhijabday_au
Brief bio: I am a Lebanese Australian residing in Australia.  I hold a degree in Cultural Anthropology/ Arabic Language and I am in my final year of the Master of Teaching. I was born and raised as a Muslim AlhamduliIlah. I believe that World Hijab Day is an important event for all Muslims and hijabi women in particular, through which they can communicate their voices and opinions, which will contribute to clearing the misconception of hijab and revealing its true meaning. As an ambassador, my aim is to support the women’s  choice to wear the hijab/veil, to eliminate stereotypes and fears, and to create a safe society for our children, where women’s freedom is respected and their rights are preserved. In various western countries, many women are exposed to religious intolerance, abuse and verbal bullying, whether in shopping centers, public places, schools or universities.  Although incidents and statistics differ from one country to another, discrimination against women in the hijab occurs constantly, directly or indirectly. The World Hijab Day event creates an opportunity to express our freedom, to enhance awareness and understanding of the religious meaning of the hijab and its cultural meaning, as well as to promote respect towards Muslim women who are subjected to stereotypes and discrimination in Western society today. So it is important that we show the world that the hijab is a symbol of modesty, beauty, freedom and empowerment.  It represents our dignity and identity as Muslim women.  As an ambassador, this is an opportunity for me to contribute to eliminating fear and building respectful relationships with others in our small community in Australia and the rest of the world.

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Visoko

Name: Almedina Musinbegovic
Social media: @WHDBiH

EGYPT

Cairo

Name: Dr.  Ehsan Ahmed Yahia
Social media: @ehsanyahia78

Brief bio: I am an Educator; teaching is my passion. I work as a lecturer at Cairo University. By being a WHD ambassador, I wish to spread the core concept of Hijab and how Muslim women can excel in their lives with hijab and modesty. I hope to end hijabophobia.

ENGLAND

Name: Zulekha Bashir
Social media: @zulekhabashir_

Brief bio: Our aim like every year is to end hate against hijab and make people understand why we wear it.

ETHIOPIA

Addis Ababa
Name: Ekram Abdu
Brief bio: I am a mother of two.  At the moment, I am working as a finance and admin at the Embassy of the State of Kuwait.
What I want to accomplish by becoming and remaining a World Hijab Day Ambassador is to spread the real meaning of Hijab to those who have completely wrong ideas about it. In addition, I want to teach Muslim women to wear the hijab with love and confidence. I  really love the rewards that come with it;  it’s so meaningful and fruitful for me.
Name: Sebah Salih
Social media: @p_sebah
Brief bio: I am a proud mom, an engineer and a teacher. I am a lover of coffee, books, love volunteering activities, and creating ideas. I have a big heart with big dreams.  As a WHD ambassador, I have so many plans to accomplish. I  want to work with orphan kids, especially girls. I want to teach them how they can achieve their dreams with their hijab. I want them to know that no girl should feel ashamed because of their hijab. I want everybody to know that hijab is our power and to end hijabophobia, we need to change the minds of our future generations; that’s why I want to work with children. I want to build sisterhood, women supporting women. Together, we can fight hijabophobia. I want to clear misunderstandings about hijab.

FINLAND

Name: Aysha K
Social media: @huivinivalintani
Brief bio:  I’m an entrepreneur with extensive experience in international business and specialization in fostering multicultural workplace culture. Thrilled to be a World Hijab Day ambassador, my passion lies in empowering every woman to feel secure and express herself through her chosen attire. Having witnessed firsthand the prejudices faced by Muslim women in workplace cultures, I am committed to challenging stereotypes, advocating for recognition of diverse talents, and ensuring equal opportunities for all women, regardless of their backgrounds. Join me in promoting inclusivity and celebrating diversity on World Hijab Day. Together, let’s make a meaningful impact in shaping workplace cultures that embrace diversity.

GHANA

Name: Rajaa Ibrahim
Contact: rajaa.abubakar@gmail.com
Brief bio: My Goal as a World hijab Day ambassador is to empower other Muslim women to acknowledge and appreciate the hijab without feeling depreciated.

INDIA

Mumbai

Name: Mariam Sayyed
Contact: mariamsayyed66@gmail.com
Social media: @mariamsayyed66
Brief bio: Assalam Alaikum, Myself, Mariam Bint Salman Sayed, A Muslimah from Mumbai India, An active Daee, and An Entrepreneur, I’m glad to announce my association with WHD, As Inshallah it shall serve the purpose of educating people around me both Muslims and non-Muslims about the concept of hijab, Clearing misconceptions and educating them, Ensuring that, unlike the normal perception hijab as a concept acts as liberation and not as oppression, Providing rational proofs on the basis of reality, And using hijab as a starting point to call people to the beautiful religion of Islam, As calling people to Islam is an obligation in Islam both men and women. Finally, all of this and all our sole efforts are directed purely for the pleasure of Allah (SWT) alone. May Allah guide all of us, Ameen.

IRAQ

Kurdistan Region

Name: Eman Mohammed Yusuf
Contact: emanyusuf9673@gmail.com
Social media: @eman_m.yusuf
Brief bio: As an Architect, Writer, and Blogger, I am a passionate advocate for women’s rights and cultural diversity. As a Muslim woman who has worn the Hijab for many years, I understand the challenges and misconceptions faced by those who wear the Hijab.

I have always strongly advocated promoting acceptance, understanding, and respect for cultural and religious diversity. I am deeply committed to empowering Muslim women. I have been actively involved in various community organizations and events promoting interfaith dialogue and cultural exchange as a member of the Kurdistan Students Development Organization (KSDO).

I believe Hijab is not a barrier between you and people in the community, but it is a barrier between you and evil people. Hijab is not just what you wear but also what you do and say; it is who you are.

I strongly believe in the importance of breaking down stereotypes and challenging misconceptions surrounding the Hijab and other aspects of Muslim culture.

I believe that the Hijab symbolizes strength and empowerment, and I am eager to share her experiences and perspectives with others.

Sulaymaniyah

Name: Zhalla Mariwan
Social media: @zhalla_mariwan
Brief bio: I am Zhalla Mariwan from Kurdistan-Iraq, I am in the medical laboratory science department. Hijab is not only covering hair, it protects the heart and mind too. My Hijab is my proud, protective, and reminder for me to follow the Holy Quran (from Surah Nur). The medical benefits of hijab shocked me when I saw it in the research including (protective layer from skin cancer, UV light, brain diseases, ..etc). It gives me a strong personality, brave heart, and bright mind. I wish every woman would be proud of themselves by wearing a hijab and find the diamond in their heart.

IRELAND

Name: Aisha Ali
Social media: @aisha_rambles
Brief bio: To raise awareness to a day that is so important for women who are stereotyped for choosing to wear the hijab.

KOSOVO

Name: Valbone Bytyqi
Contact: worldhijabdaykosovo@gmail.com
Brief bio: My target by being World Hijab Day Ambassador for Kosovo is to inform the population of Kosovo that the Hijab is a human right which is guaranteed by the Constitution of Kosovo and the European Convention on Human rights.

MAURITANIA

Name: Manthita Diagana
Social media: @mantou_diagana
Brief bio: My name is Manthita Diagana. I’m 22 years old and I live in Mauritania. I’m a logistician by training. As the world hijab Day ambassador in Mauritania, I would like to promote the veil, encourage women to wear the veil, and be proud to wear it because it’s an obligation for every Muslim woman and would like to defend the hijab phobia in the world.

NIGERIA

Name: Usman Maimuna Jumai
Brief bio: I want to educate other ladies on the importance of the Hijab and why it is important to dress decently and responsibly. Also, I want to inform and educate my community on the religious, moral and social benefits of wearing the Hijab.
Name: Ola Olabimpe
Social media: FB/IG/@sisterschillin
Brief bio: I am an entrepreneur. I decided to become a World Hijab Day (WHD) Ambassador because I love to support my faith, and my sisters. I believe WHD helps Muslim women (who are struggling with issues concerning their wish to don the hijab or are already facing challenges because of it) build confidence and show them they are not alone. Alhamdulillah, we held a WHD event last year 2020 in Lagos showcasing hijab tutorials and inspiring talks from well respected Muslim women in our society. The feedback was awesome. Am glad to be part of World Hijab Day. It’s time to rewrite our narrative, so people know that the media or what it portrays about us “is not us.”

PAKISTAN

Karachi

Name: Maryam Jameel

Brief bio: Being part of this organization means a great deal to me and holds a special place in my heart. I wish to play my role as prominently as I can to eradicate Hijabophobia, raise my voice against it on every platform that I can, and stand with every hijabi woman to make them feel confident and delightful in having hijab as their identity.

PALESTINE

Name: Ansam Ayiad
Social media: @LinkedIn

Brief bio: Chevening Awards Alumna with MSc in Molecular Medicine. I believe that woman success depends on her qualifications and experience, not on her outward appearance or what she wears. The world calls for the freedom of religion and the practice of rituals. Woman rights call for a woman’s freedom to choose her clothes. Therefore, women wearing hijab has the right to practice their rituals and choose their own clothes as well. I stand with every Muslim woman was forced to give up her hijab for hostile reasons and I am looking forward to ending discrimination and hijab phobia through awareness, education and empowerment.

PARAGUAY

Asunción

Name: Ingrid Belén Armoa Yegros
Brief bio: I am a lawyer, chef, and radio and television host. Also, a mom of 2 beautiful children (a boy of 21 and a girl of 19) that Allah gave me. I adopted the Muslim religion 14 years ago and since then I have been wearing the hijab, just like my daughter. It was a bit difficult at first because in the city where I live there are no woman who dons it, so they always look at me strangely. Also, the first criticisms, and the harshest ones, were from my family.  People think that I only wear it because I am from a Muslim family or because I am married to a Muslim, and for that reason, I am obliged to wear it. We must make it clear that by wearing it, we are exercising our fundamental human right to freedom and expression of personality since it is our own decision. And any free decision that a person makes must be respected, as long as it does not affect third parties. Just as those who have tattoos, or colored hair, or dress in one way or another, are exercising that same right, so why are they called free people and we are oppressed? I am also proud to tell you that I was the first Muslim to participate in the world famous Masterchef program, held in Paraguay in 2018. At that time I received very strong criticism regarding my decision to adopt the Muslim religion, as they consider it sexist and that women do not have rights, besides being always called a terrorist. I have had many memes related to bombs. Even a Facebook page was reported for that reason. But those comments never affected me. On the contrary, I am more and more proud of the decision I made to adopt this beautiful religion. The world needs peace, and to achieve this, we must respect each other. For that reason, I consider it very important to be an ambassador here in my country, to be able to carry out activities that end those misconceptions they have about us, and for people to understand that just as they exercise their freedom in different ways, we do it by wearing the hijab. Let’s not judge, let’s respect.

PHILIPPINES

Name: Sobaida P. Mangorsi
Social media: Sobaida P. Mangorsi

Brief bio: I am interested in interfaith dialogue with others with my role as a World Hijab Day Ambassador. It’s important to clear misconceptions about the hijab.

SIERRA LEONE

Name: Hassan A. Dawoh
Contact: hassandawoh@gmail.com
Brief bio: I am a Sierra Leonean, an Islamic worker trained at Islamic Education Trust (IET) Minna, Nigeria. Holding an HND in Mechanical Engineer, and a BSc in Business Administration Div.2. I am presently the Coordinator United Council of Imams Lunsar, Sierra Leone. What I aim to achieve as a WHD Ambassador is to see that all Islamic schools and colleges in Sierra Leone introduce Hijab to their female students, and also to continue raising awareness for the female population in Sierra Leone embrace the Hijab since Sierra Leone have a 75 % Muslims population.

SOUTH AFRICA

Name: Munira Garda Carim
Contact: worldhijabdaysa@gmail.com
Social media: @worldhijabdaysa @WHDSA
Brief bio: I wish to continue to educate and inform others about the hijab. The beauty and the benefits of it. In South Africa, we are fortunate to live in a democratic country with a constitution that doesn’t allow or tolerate discrimination of race, religion, etc. Yet, there are still many instances and reports of islamophobia and discrimination toward those wearing the hijab. Most times it stems from ignorance or misinformation.

SPAIN

Name: Hanan El Ayadi Benabdellah
Social media: @hananelayadiben

Brief bio: Hanan El Ayadi Benabdellah is an extremely enthusiastic and proactive individual. As a youngster she learned that in life you must absorb and learn as much as you can. Furthermore, it is through these learned and observed experiences which shapes how a person can successfully navigate through life. Knowledge is powerful and allows a person to be able to adapt in different settings such as professionally and in personal contexts. Having an enriched and open mind is essential for our development.The advice that she would always give in any situation she comes across in life is as follows, “remember you are your own legacy, work in it”. In addition, as Paul Arden states, “you can be all the good you want to be”.

At 14 years old she has participated and developed in the social and humanitarian sector. For the past 9 years since she started, she has taken part in different organizations and received distinguished recognitions and awards. Moreover, she has had the opportunity to work in various entities and countries where she has excelled.

Her main objective as a WHD Ambassador is to foster compassion as well as understanding of Muslim women’s rights and to work towards dispelling prejudice. She wants to work towards creating an atmosphere of receptivity and equal treatment for her community and the global community at large. She understands that there are a lot of misconceptions circulating around Muslim women such as the donning of the hijab. She wants the world to understand that we have rights that we want to be respected such as going to school and work whilst wearing the hijab.

Currently, Musim women who wear the hijab are highlighted in society. What many may not know is that hijab is an expression of faith and represents a free and distinctive identity.

I would like to bring about awareness and encourage an attitude of compassion for hijab observing women in Spain. I want equal treatment, fairness and receptivity from our community at large. I want to bring about a change in how women perceive their hijab in terms of their career and school. I want to bring awareness of the rights women should have in society.

Racism, prejudice and Islamophobia is prevalent in our community due to the populations’ lack of knowledge of Islam.

February 1st marks a day where we can tackle gender islamophobia in a respectful and educational manner. We can help reach out to women who are being discriminated and inform those who are unaware and doing the discrimination. We can educate hijab wearing women about their rights in Islam and in Spain. We can use many platforms such as Instagram, interviews and informative posts to convey our message of tolerance and equality. Most importantly, as a WHD ambassador I can establish myself as a key figure and make connections with various Spanish associations who work with Islamic communities. I am available to give workshops and share information to spread the message of what WHD truly means and why we are so passionate about it.

U.K.

Name: Shreen Mahmood
Contact: +447446385863

Brief bio: Shreen Mahmood, is a proud British Muslim, born in Birmingham, West Midlands. Previous posts have included NHS Marketing and Communications, Administrative Manager and Fundraising Executive. She is currently a Radio Presenter, World Hijab Day UK Ambassador, and Muslims Connect Founder. She organises events and workshops around pertinent issues such as women empowerment, confidence, mental health, family values, youth empowerment and much more. She has been invited to schools and youth groups as a motivational speaker, helping to raise aspirations. She is a keen traveller and also organises tours to Jerusalem. She has a passion for charity work. In Ramadan 2020, her projects for Yemen have raised just over £50000. She has travelled to Africa, Turkey, Pakistan to deliver aid with many charities. She has been awarded Peace Ambassador by Women’s Federation for World Peace presented in the House of Commons, Best Community Initiative Finalist by British Muslim Awards and Unsung Heroine by SheAwards UK.I would love to continue to support such an amazing and important initiative. Everyone can do something to raise a voice against an injustice and discrimination in any form is unacceptable. Our faith is of peace, justice and kindness. Its an honour to be a part of the WHD family inshallah as long as I can be.

Name: Ikraam Leena Musoke. N.
Social media: @Ikraam_M_leena

Brief bio: A proud Muslim student enthusiastic about teaching women and girls about the importance of wearing the Hijab. Hijab is a piece of clothing that defines us as Muslim in a way no other piece of clothing can. It contributes to our identity, connection to Allah (SWT), confidence and beauty. As a World Hijab Day ambassador, I will encourage and support individuals on their Hijab journey as well as acceptance in society without fear of discrimination or stereotypes.

ZAMBIA

Lusaka

Name:  Sona Kamara
Social media: @Hijab Adornmets
Brief bio: I am a Zambian Muslim entrepreneur and Hijab activist . I am volunteering for the second time for the ambassadorship position again this year after organizing a successful event in 2020 in my country(Zambia). Because I am passionate about Hijab and feel there is still a lot of sensitisation needed among the Muslims and non-Muslims, I would love to continue spreading awareness and knowledge  among the communities by educating the masses about the importance of Hijab so that we the Muslims can embrace and wear Hijab without any fear as well as educate the non-Muslims to clearly understand why we wear Hijab, as a way of promoting peace, respect, and religious tolerance among other challenges hijabis face everyday.

If you’re interested in becoming World Hijab Day ambassador for your country/city,  please fill out the  World Hijab Day Ambassador Application. 

Image: World Hijab Day Ambassadors of Indonesia—Trifty Qurrota Aini, Caesaria Apriliani, & Alin Rizkiana.